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Medaka Osteoclast (Medaka_Osteoclast)
12.05.12

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Akira Kudo, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

Enhancement of the osteoclast (bone resorption cell) is assumed to cause the decrease of bone mineral density in space. Medaka fish is a model animal for the life science research, and JAXA plans to study the effects of microgravity on the osteoclast activity and the gravity sensing system of the vertebulate using Medaka fish on board the Kibo Module.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Akira Kudo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Yoshiro Takano, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
  • Keiji Inohaya, Tokyo Institute of Technology

    • Developer(s)
    Information Pending

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    May 2012 - March 2013



    Expeditions Assigned

    31/32,33/34

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • During the space flight, bone mineral density is decreased by the influence of osteoclast activation, which molecular mechanism is expectantly investigated. To find the effect of microgravity on osteoclast in space, we perform a long-term experiment with small fresh water fish, medaka, and examine the alteration of osteoclast activity under microgravity with the histological analysis or the gene expression analysis by RNA in-situ hybridization.


    • Medaka will be launched by SpaceX-2 and 2months experiment will be started using the Aquatic Habitat. After approx. 2weeks, 1month, and 2months from the experiment start, medaka will be sampled from the Aquatic Habitat Aquariums and chemically fixed for the retrieval. Also, the Aquatic Habitat maintenance operations, such as water sampling, water quality check, water exchange, and ORU exchanges are planned.


    • Fixed samples will be retrieved by SpaceX-2 and SpaceX-3.

    Description

    Information Pending

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

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    Related Websites

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    Imagery

    image Aquarium holding the Medaka Osteoclast ground testing (JAXA)
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    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Payloads-Helpline.
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